They can even have some physical benefits such as a greater tolerance to allergies and lower blood pressure levels.

But, despite all of these positive reasons for having pets, there are still some precautions to take when we have animals in our homes.

Dogs have a much larger tolerance to bacteria, germs, and viruses than humans do, and they have some habits that would be considered dangerous for humans.

So next time you let your dog lick all over your face or have a bite of your sandwich, remember that there are some diseases that can carry from them to you:

Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) Staphylococcus aureus is the name of a common type of bacteria that can be found on animal’s skin.

MRSA is the same bacteria, after it has become immune to antibiotics. This bacteria can cause infections in several different areas of your body, but your pet may not be affected by it and still have the ability to give it to you. It’s contagious through direct contact.

Ringworms The infections caused by ringworms can appear anywhere on your body and cause extreme itchiness and rashes, and hair and nail loss. This also can be contagious through direct contact with your pet’s skin or hair.

Sepsis The bacteria Capnocytophaga canimorsus, commonly found in dog’s mouths, can give you a disease called sepsis, which is a very serious blood poisoning that can cause organ failure. Although it is rare, and it normally only affects people with very fragile immune systems, it’s still something to look out for.

Young children and elderly adults are more prone to all of these diseases, as well as others, since their immune system is weaker than that of the average adult.

Never forget to make sure your beloved pet is as healthy as can be, but remember that their immune system is different from yours, and take the needed precautions to ensure that you don’t catch anything from them.